Mac mini in box

Lifting the top off the Mac mini box, we get our fist look at the A1347's aluminum unibody enclosure.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini cords, documentation, and system disc

Under the Mac mini, you'll find the rest of the box contents.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini box contents

Included with the Mac mini is the power cord, HDMI to DVI adapter, documentation, and OS disc.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini - Top

The new Mac mini is significantly thinner than previous versions, and continues the line's minimalist design. The front of the computer has only the power/activity light and disc slot.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini - Bottom

The bottom of the Mac mini is dominated by a large, circular access plate. This plate can be removed without tools and gives the user easy access to the machine's RAM chips.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini - Ports

Along the back of the Mac mini, are the power button, AC power input, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port, Firewire 800?port, HDMI out, Mini DisplayPort four USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, audio line in minijack, and audio line out/headphone minijack.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini - Access plate (locked position)

The Mac mini's access plate can be easily removed by rotating it from the locked position (shown here) to the unlocked position (indicated by the open circle on the aluminum enclosure).

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini - Access plate (unlocked position)

You unlock the Mac mini's access plate by turning it so that the white dot on the plate aligns with the hollow black circle on the aluminum enclosure.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini's access plate

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini access plate - Front

The Mac mini's access plate not only allows you to open the machine's case, but serves as a non-slip surface on which to rest the computer.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini access plate - Back

A thin metal shield is attached to the back of the Mac mini's access plate.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac min with access plate removed

With the access plate removed, we get our fist look inside the Mac mini (A1347). The RAM chips, cooling fan, and Wi-Fi antenna are clearly visible.

The access plate is a huge improvement over previous Mac mini designs as it allows users to upgrade the machine's RAM without having to "crack open" the case.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the access plate catch screws

To begin disassembling the Mac mini, I removed the three T8 Torx screws that serve as posts for the catches on the access plate. Two of these screws also hold the Wi-Fi antenna in place.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini Wi-Fi antenna plate screws

There are two more T8 Torx screws holding the Wi-Fi antenna plate in place.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini RAM chips

The Mac Mini has two memory slots. Our base model came with 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM. The two slots can support up to 8GB (two 4GB SO-DIMMs).

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini 2GB RAM

Two Samsung 1GB 1Rx8 SO-DIMMs

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini RAM chips removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini Wi-Fi antenna plate

With the ram remove, you can let the Wi-Fi antenna plate away from the case.

Note: There is a wire connecting the antenna to the AirPort/Bluetooth board. You'll need to disconnect this wire before removing the plate.

Also, you may want to remove the cooling fan and black plastic cowling (which I do later), before removing the antenna plate. You can slide the plate past these two components, but it's a tight fit.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini with RAM chips removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini Wi-Fi antenna plate - Top

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini Wi-Fi antenna plate - Bottom

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini with Wi-Fi antenna plate remove

With the Wi-Fi antenna plate removed, we can see the 320GB Serial ATA hard drive (glad in black plastic).

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini cooling fan

There are two T6 Torx screws that secure the Mac mini's cooling fan to the logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Lifting out the Mac mini cooling fan

With the screws removed, you can gently lift the cooling fan away from the Mac mini's unibody enclosure. Before removing it completely, you'll need to disconnect the wire that connects the fan to the main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini cooling fan - Top

The cooling fan is a welcome addition to the redesigned Mac mini A1347.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini cooling fan - Bottom

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini with cooling fan removed

With the fan removed, we get our first good look at Mac mini's main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini heat sink cowling

With the cooling fan removed, a single T6 Torx screw holds the cowling to the heat sink.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini heat sink cowling

You may have to wiggle the cowling to pull it free from the unibody enclosure.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini with heat sink cowling removed

With the cowling removed, you can see the heat sink beneath.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing Mac mini logic board screws and standoffs

There are several screws and standoffs that hold the main logic board and hard drive in place. Before proceeding, I removed all of these. Just make sure you note where each screw/standoff goes and some are not interchangeable.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing a standoff on the Mac mini logic board

One of the standoffs attached to the Mac Mini's main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini heat sink screw

This screw holds the Mac mini's heat sink in place.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Second Mac mini heat sink screw

A second screws on the Mac mini's heat sink.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini hard drive screw

This screw holds the Mac mini's hard drive in place.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini main logic board connectors

There are a series of connectors on the Mac mini's main logic board for the optical drive, hard disk, thermal sensor, and IR senor. You will need to gently disconnect all these cables before removing the logic board from the Mac mini's unibody enclosure.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini hard drive and optical drive connectors

The large connectors belong to the hard drive and optical drive.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini drive thermal sensors and IR sensor connectors

To the right of the drive connectors are two thermal sensor connectors (one for each drive) and the IR sensor connector.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini logic board remove holes

To remove the Mac mini's logic board, you'll need to insert two thin, cylindrical rods into these two holes and gently pry the board and attached components out the back of the unibody enclosure.

Warning: Using any other holes to pry loose the main logic board, could damage the board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Use screwdrivers to pry loose the Mac mini logic board

Two small screwdrivers work well when prying loose the Mac mini's main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini main logic board separated from unibody enclosure

Once the main logic board as moved just past the end of the enclosure, you can remove the screwdrivers.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini hard drive

With the main logic board shifted, we can remove the hard drive from the Mac mini.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini 320GB hard drive

Our base model Mac mini came with a 320GB Toshiba HDD2H77 hard drive.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini with hard drive removed

With the hard drive removed, we can the optical drive below.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Disconnecting the Mac Mini logic board power connector

Before removing the main logic board, I disconnected the connector to the power supply. With the cable disconnected you can pull the logic board free from the unibody enclosure.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini main logic board with heat sink, speaker, and wireless card

The heat sink, speaker and wireless card are still attached to the top of the Mac mini's main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini main logic board - Ports

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini heat sink (attached)

The Mac mini's heat sink is mounted over the Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU, and curves around to the back of the logic board where the cooling fan can move air across it.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini internal speaker and wireless card

The Mac mini's internal speaker and AirPort Extreme card are mounted on this small protrusion on the main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini logic board - Bottom

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini logic board system battery

Our Mac mini came with a Panasonic 3V BR2032 system battery.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini logic board - Back closeup

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini speaker

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini Airport Extreme card - Top

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini Airport Extreme card - Bottom

The Mac Mini A1347 has 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1. Broadcom appears to have manufactured this card or supplied most of the chips for it as "Broadcom" is clearly marked on the underside of the card.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Removing the Mac mini heat sink

At this point, a a couple of spring-loaded T8 Torx screws hold the heat sink to the main logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Lifting away the Mac mini's heat sink

With all the screws removed, you can lift the heat sink away from the main logic board and the CPU and GPU.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini A1347 CPU and GPU

On the right, is the Intel P8600 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. A 2.66GHz CPU is also available.

On the left is the NVIDIA GeForce 320M GPU with 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini main logic board - Top

With nearly all the internal components removed, we can see the Mac mini's entire logic board.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini heat sink - Top

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini heat sink - Bottom

On the underside of the Mac mini's heat sink we find the connector for the thermal sensor, the air channels, and the plates that physically connect the heat sink to the CPU and GPU. A think layer of thermal paste is still on the contact plates.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac min with main logic board removed

The main logic board removed, all the remains within the Mac mini's unibody enclosure are the optical drive and the power supply.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini power supply - Top

Apple opted for an internal power supply with the Mac mini A1347. this design eliminates the need for an external power block common on laptops and game consoles.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Mac mini power supply - Bottom

Information on the Mac mini's power supply are located on the underside labels. This unit is a Delta Electronics Model ADP-85AF S rated for 85W of total power.

Mac mini speaker

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...

Disclosure

Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Full Bio

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.

It's all my fault. I finally plunked down cash for a Mac Mini a few weeks ago and now there's a newer model. It's a curse - just like when I cause the stock market to crash the day after I buy back in.

Lazy picture man.. I bet you copied picture 1 and renamed it 72 for that last shot.
:-P
O:-)
"bazingga"!
(Edit: added "bazingga" to give extra zip to poking a joke at 70+ pictures, how about "extra attentive nutty picture man" would that make it more poke-able?) O:-)

Actually you should avoid buying them because Steve Jobs said the "PC" is dying and a Mac [by most people's definition a Mac is a PC. So in a sense you are buying an absolete product that Apple is still selling. :-)

Oh dear. Another Windows specialist who feels threatened by the existence of a more reliable OS. I remember how OS/2 Warp resulted in fewer claims for repetitive motion injuries caused by frequent NT rebooting. Too bad IBM failed to understand marketing. But if they had, there'd be a lot fewer of us left in IT support. Take my advice: learn to love and support as many OSes as you can. You'll get an honest perspective on what really works and what doesn't.

As always, my goal is to disassemble these devices in a manner that allows them to be reassembled in working order.
For an example, check out the following post on my experience taking apart the iPhone 4:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/itdojo/?p=1876

Yes. I did use the same image for both the first and last image in this gallery. But, I often do for our teardowns, and with good reason.
The TechRepublic site and most of our RSS feeds use a gallery's first image as THE gallery thumbnail. This means that you want to put a compelling pic that represents that gallery's subject matter in the first slot.
As I have always ended our teardown galleries with a shot of the device completely disassembled this thumbnail limitation creates a slight problem.
Unfortunately, the only way to get around this issue is to use the same image in both the first and last slot.
Personally, I wouldn't consider posting a gallery with 70+ distinct images "lazy".

I am not a "Windows specialist". I could care less what OS or platform is used. Hell I would be happy with an old 8086 running CP/M booted from a 5 1/4" 360K floppy. Computers are nothing more than tools to me. I could use an old VT100 terminal to do my job. IOS is my OS of choice...

You have went through the work of breaking down the MAC Mini, which is something that many may hessitate to do unless necessity required it. I am an IT professional working primarily in the world of Windows, but I have used MAC's in my personal work space along side of my other machines. I have had a dual core Mini MAC since they initially came out. I have been pleased with it's design and operation, but have never cracked open the case. I am contemplating purchasing one of the improved Mini's, and your breakdown along with details were great.
It is easy to pick out a flaw in someone else's work, but hard for some to give credit where credit is due. GOOD JOB!!!!